Shades of Chinese in Pulo Kemaro, Palembang

Chinese ethnic atmosphere was thick in a place called Pulo Kemaro in Palembang, South Sumatra. The place is located around the Musi River, exactly six kilometers from the Ampera bridge.

To reach Pulo Kemaro, visitors must use a timber ship or boat.

Chinese atmosphere, immediately catches the eye when the visitors got off the ship. Bright red color decorates the fence surrounding Kemaro Island. Then in Pulo Kemaro main gate, visitors are greeted by a yellow dragon sculptures and wall bright red gate.

When to go deeper into the island area, immediately looked a temple. In it, there is the tomb of Palembang daughter, Siti Fatimah adjacent to the tomb of her husband prince who comes from the Chinese Tan Bun An. The temple is named, Soei Goeat Kiong or better known Kuan Im temple.

Besides temple, the main attraction is the Pulo Kemaro towering nine-story pagoda in the middle of the island. The pagoda stood with a blend of red, yellow, and blue. Right between the pagoda stairs there are two green dragon statues which add to the atmosphere more viscous Tiong Hoa

For anyone who want to get into Pulo Kemaro trillionth not need to spend any money. But if we have to transport water to the middle of the island, visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of Chinese ethics in Pulo Kemaro.

However, unfortunately, there are some parts in pulo Kemaro looks like not neglected. Seen a lot of tall grass and there is some graffiti from the hands of irresponsible. In fact, in places it has no janitor who every day care of Pulo Kemaro.

According to one janitor in Pulo Kemaro, Marlina, 40 years, every day there are two janitors on duty at the right. As a freelance worker they worked to clean up the pagoda pagoda, and a fee of Rp15 thousand per day.

“Here is a janitor, but because of his land, we cannot clear in detail. Additionally, many visitors were taking out the trash and graffiti. Much of what such a school,” he said when met at Pulo Kemaro headline.

Marlina admitted, he came from a village that is located across Rayonmina Pulo Kemaro. Every morning, Marlina set by rowing boat to cross the river Musi once the current is very swift. Marlina’s been 18 years to the routine.

“Since 1995 I finished the janitor here. Extremely crowded here that when the school holidays or red dates. Moreover, if there is a big day as the Tiong Hoa Cap Go Meh,” said Marlina.

According to various historical sources, it turns out Pulo Kamaro it has an interesting legend. Knick knacks all over the place and that is in Pulo Kemaro not just carelessly made. Including the cemetery and Siti Fatimah Tan Bun An.

According to local legend, in ancient times, Palembang princess married to a wealthy merchant from China. Father of the princess, the king of Palembang when it approved the marriage of his daughter with merchants from China and asked nine jars of gold as dowry.

Chinese merchants also undertakes the dowry and took Fatima to go to mainland China. With the intention that was introduced to Tan Bun An old man once to bring the golden urn nine

To avoid pirates, gold urns are closed vegetables kind of mustard. Prior to the mainland Palembang. Fatimah can not wait to see the nine golden urn. After opening in the jar was seen by Fatimah only contains vegetables. Fatimah then angry, then the jars are banished to the river.

Looking at the jars were dumped into the river Musi, Tan Bun A plunging into the river and tried to get back the discarded urn, but does not appear anymore.

See the idol’s heart jump Fatimah had come hurling himself into the river and drowned. The princess was buried in the Kemaro island, and built a shrine to his memory Soei Goeat Kiong.

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Hello, my name is Asep Firmansyah, from Tasikmalaya - Indonesia. My aim in writing on my personal website is to provide information ranging from cultural diversity, to a very attractive tourist spots in Indonesia (Java), particularly Banyuwangi (East Java) for your visit. So, is it true that Banyuwangi is "The Sunrise Of Java? Let us prove it ....